Local News
Scotia Group Grows Top Line, But Costs Dampen Profits
Scotia Group Jamaica reported a quarterly decline in net profit driven by surging operating expenses, despite achieving growth in its loan book, operating income, and status as Jamaica’s top mortgage provider for the 2025 financial year, which was also marked by significant one-off costs from Hurricane Melissa.
Contractor Threatens To Sue HDC Over Payment Delays
The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is facing possible legal action after allegedly failing to pay a south contractor for six months of waste-disposal and bulk removal services.
Dennie Resigns As Plipdeco President
Dr Curtis Dennie has resigned as president of the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation Ltd (Plipdeco).
Business Outlook Index: Budget Dimmed Job Outlook
The outlook for employment in T&T’s food services sector has shifted dramatically in the wake of the 2026 budget statement, which introduced higher excise duties on alcohol and tobacco products.
Forex Sales By Dealers Drop By US$298.5M
Foreign exchange sales to the public from authorised dealers fell by US$298.5 million between January and October this year compared with the same period in 2024, the Central Bank reported in its Monetary Policy Report released yesterday.
CIBC Caribbean’s Net Income Falls
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2025, the Bank reported net income of $159.7 million, compared with $277.5 million in the prior year. Results for 2025 include a $56.2 million fair value loss on a non-core investment, and a $2.4 million net gain related to the previously announced divestitures.
CBTT: Economy Rebounded In Q2
A Central Bank report issued yesterday states that indicators monitored by the Central Bank suggest that economic activity rebounded in the second quarter of 2025, while headline inflation, measured by the CSO’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), slid between May and October 2025 and there was a reduction in the demand for foreign exchange.
ANSA Motors Closes Chaguanas Service Centre
ANSA Motors has announced the official closure of its Chaguanas Service Centre, effective December 1, 2025.
JMMB Group Restructuring
JMMB Group Ltd ( JMMBGL) and its subsidiary, JMMB Financial Holdings Ltd ( JMMBFH), are reshaping their boards as part of a wider effort to tighten corporate governance and reinforce regulatory compliance across the group’s financial structure.
Regional News
Tourism Sector Attracting More Young People
More must be done to tap into the vast employment potential within the tourism sector, especially with young people eager to get involved.
Jamaica’s Tourism Minister To Chair New CTO Committee
Jamaica’s tourism minister Edmund Bartlett has been appointed chair of a new high-level Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) committee that will craft a regional strategy to manage the supply side of tourism and retain a larger share of tourism earnings within Caribbean economies.
Hurricane Melissa Forces Reset Of Aviation Sector
Hurricane Melissa has pushed Jamaica’s aviation sector into yet another reset, according to Audley Deidrick, president and CEO of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ). He made the disclosure while addressing the MBJ Airports Limited biannual forum at Sangster International Airport on Wednesday.
Guyana, US Sign Agreement To Expand Military Partnership
Guyana has signed an agreement with the United States to expand military co-operation between the two countries. “The two countries also signed a Statement of Intent to expand joint military co-operation with full respect for the sovereignty and laws of both countries,” President Irfaan Ali said, following talks with senior US officials on Tuesday.
Guyana, Belize To Satisfy Caricom’s Sugar Demand
Guyana’s Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh says two sugar refineries under construction in Belize and Guyana are poised to satisfy the region’s demand for refined cane sugar.
Guardian General Partners With CCRIF On New Micro-Insurance Product
Guardian General Insurance Jamaica (GGIJ) has launched Climate Guard — a new parametric, micro-insurance product developed in partnership with CCRIF — to deliver rapid, no-questions-asked cash relief to vulnerable Jamaicans impacted by extreme rainfall and high-wind events.
West Indies Petroleum Terminal Files For $5.59B JSE Listing
West Indies Petroleum Terminal Limited (WIP Terminal) is seeking a listing on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) in a move to raise its corporate profile and provide liquidity for shareholders, amid falling profitability and low cash reserves.
Corruption A Significant Barrier To Development
President of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Daniel Best, yesterday said that corruption represents one of the most significant barriers to sustainable development.
Barita Ready To Fund Recovery Projects Post-Melissa
Touting the weather-proof nature of its business model and a strong capital base, Barita Investments Limited has said it is well-positioned to finance new opportunities emerging in Jamaica’s recovery economy following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
International News
Broadcom Shares Slide After Investors Seek Bigger AI Payoff
Broadcom Inc., a chip company vying with Nvidia Corp. for AI computing revenue, slumped after its sales outlook for the red-hot market failed to meet investors’ lofty expectations.
China Prepares As Much As $70 Billion In Chip Sector Incentives
China is considering a package of incentives worth as much as $70 billion to bankroll and support its chipmaking industry, pouring more state money into a sector it deems pivotal to its technological conflict with the US.
Gold Steady After Three-Day Gain With More US Rate Cuts Expected
Gold (GC=F) steadied after three days of gains, supported by the prospect of further monetary easing in the US following a rate cut this week. Silver traded near a record high.
Tech Drags US Futures As Global Stocks Eye Records
US stock futures were held back once again by a retreat in technology shares on a day when global gauges had record highs in their sights.
Companies Are Just Now Tallying Up The Impact Of The US Shutdown
While the longest government shutdown in US history is over, the consequences of the 43-day impasse are only just starting to feed through for companies across the US and beyond.
Oracle Drops On Disappointing Cloud Sales, More AI Spending
Oracle Corp. shares fell 11% in early trading after the company reported a jump in spending on AI data centers and other equipment, rising outlays that are taking longer to translate into cloud revenue than investors want.
Oil Falls To Lowest Since October As Market Sentiment Weakens
Oil retreated to the lowest since October, tracking wider losses in equities and other risk assets.
Stock Dip-Buyers Step In After Oracle Spurs Slide
US stock futures trimmed losses as dip buyers stepped in after concerns over Oracle Corp.’s plans for vast capital outlays on artificial-intelligence infrastructure drove a broad retreat from risky assets.
Intel Loses Challenge Against EU Antitrust Ruling But Wins Reduced Fine
U.S. chipmaker Intel (INTC) lost its challenge against a 376 million euros ($438 million) EU antitrust fine imposed two years ago for thwarting rivals but gained some solace as Europe’s second-highest court slashed the penalty by a third on Wednesday.
Reports
November 2025-Economic Outlook
November 2025-Earnings Update
Economic Outlook – OCT2025
Global GDP growth has improved relative to earlier forecasts, reflecting the gradual easing of trade tensions and resilience.
Earnings Update – OCT2025
During October, Guardian Holdings Limited boasted of a 114% lift in after tax profit, owing to the gain on sale of its stake in Thoma Exploitatie B.V. Excluding this, however, underlying profit grew by 7%, or 43 million thanks to a 34% rise in insurance service results.
US Rate Watch OCT 2025
On October 29, 2025, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to 3.75% – 4.00 % from 4.00% – 4.25%. This decision was supported by a moderation in economic activity, a softer labor market, and elevated inflation.
Economic Outlook – September 30th 2025
Earnings Update – September 30th, 2025
Pelagic Series Factsheets – September 30th, 2025
Offshore Factsheets – September 30th 2025
